The problem with the Canadian political scene

[whosinpower]

Everyone is scrambling to define the center left. Liberals, NDP, and green. We are fractured. We need a new national party - they should all join together and form the Liberal democratic party. LDP.

When the conservatives were split in The reform party and the progressive conservatives - neither one had a hope of actually forming government. The PC's had done themselves in and the reformers were far more right wing to be accepted on the national political scene.

Liberal's are really struggling, and the NDP are too far to the left. As long as they continue to fight each other, the conservatives will continue to drive up the middle and form government - albeit in a minority status.

I live in Harper country - but everyone I talk to has said that they do not trust him as far as they could throw him - and are completely unenthusiastic about the election. The problem is that the liberals are seen as weak, given Stefan Dion's performance as opposition leader, and the NDP have not gained enough traction to form a government - so our votes will be split....again.

I asked a firm conservative a question regarding the election that he has been unable to answer. I asked why we were having an election at all. He gave me the party line that government was not functioning - to which I stated that I thought Harper was being quite clever in forcing each vote of each bill he really wanted to be passed as a confidence motion. He won every single time -even though many of those bills went against the grain of the opposition party. So - I asked what did Harper want to do - that he thus far had been unable to do - and why was that not public knowledge.

My friend answered that it was the youth crime bill. I asked rather incredulously - that we were going to the polls over that?!? He understood my surprise. He stated that it was actually a very valid question and that he was going to ask his MLA, and get back to me. It is rather strange that the conservatives have no platform - although I am sure this was planned all along. We do not know what we are voting for - and we do not know what Harper's agenda is. But, we have been asked to trust him, based on his record. And my conservative friend is now asking the exact same question.

[HeresyLives]

1. I'd go for that. LDP!

Green background, orange maple leaf, and the letters LDP in red, mid-leaf.

We also need a statement of principles, progressive ones, not all the old baggage both parties have been dragging around for years.

Good work on your Conservative friend, btw!

[HeresyLives]

2. Too late to edit my comment

but I meant orange-as-in-gold maple leaf. I put 'gold' in brackets and promptly wiped myself out. :rofl:

[Lucy Goosey]

6. Awesome - sign me up. Unite the (centre-)left!

[LiberadorHugo]

3. Fuck that.

We need proportional representation...I'm a socialist and I deserve a voice independent of those crooked sellouts. Nor will I share my party with Christo-fascists like Wappel and Szabo. :puke:

[glarius]

4. I've been reading your posts...you come across as thoroughly UNPLEASANT!

Nothing constructive to contribute....just venom.

[Lucy Goosey]

5. Agreed.

Nothing more to say here, really.

[Clintonista2]

7. no kidding

[Dutch]

8. Funny- you're the one making the 'thoroughly UNPLEASANT!', bullying personal attack

All LH did was commit the cardinal crime of attacking the sainted Liberal Party. As far as I know that's still allowed, much as the idea of anybody competing for votes with the old broken down red machine clearly enrages you and your fellow travellers.

[Bragi]

9. That's one way...

If we want to once again have governments that share the basic values of the majority, then there are four ways to do it: 1. proportional representation, 2. merge parties , 3. have coalition governments, 4 vote strategically.

The first requires a constitutional amendment, so it isn't going to happen. Of the remaining three options, any would be fine with me. Until one of those options opens up, we will suffer governments that represent the wishes of the 1/3 of the voters who are conservatives.

PS -- I'm voting NDP this time for strategic reasons, though I seriously regret that, as I have no confidence in Layton will do anything real whatsoever to get rid of or limit Harper post-election, when he will spend his time mostly on divisive and sectarian attacks on Liberals and Greens.

- B